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Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (May 31) announced that as the Standby Signal No. 1 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point has been closed at 8.30am until further notice.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (May 30) strongly disapproved of and condemned all baseless allegations by the United States (US) Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and the European Union (EU) against the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and Police National Security Department's law enforcement action which simply do not stand up to the facts.
​The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.
​For the concerned law enforcement action taken by the Police in accordance with the Ordinance, investigation revealed that the acts of the arrested persons involved repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intention on a social platform with content provoking hatred towards the Central Government, the HKSAR Government and the Judiciary, as well as inciting netizens to organise or participate in relevant illegal activities. Offences in connection with seditious intention are very serious crimes, and no jurisdictions, including the US and those from the EU, will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security.
We have emphasised time and again that the Ordinance only targets an extremely small minority of people who endanger national security, with the aim of protecting the lives, property, freedoms and rights of the people of Hong Kong. The offences under the Ordinance, including offences in connection with "seditious intention" will not hinder legitimate expression of opinions, such as making reasonable and genuine criticism of government policies based on objective facts.
The Ordinance clearly specifies that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law, as well as the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, are to be protected in accordance with the law.
The Ordinance is a piece of legislation to defend against acts and activities endangering national security. Only invaders who want to intrude into our home to plunder and loot should be worried by the Ordinance.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 30) that samples of several kinds of canned pasta sauce were found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide. Members of the public should not consume the affected products. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Traditional)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g)
Best-before date: December 26, 2024
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited
Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Mushroom)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g)
Best-before date: September 8, 2024
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited
Product name: Hunts Pasta Sauce (Garlic & Herb)
Brand: Hunts
Place of origin: United States
Net weight: 24oz (680g)
Best-before date: July 31, 2025
Importer: SIMS Trading Company Limited
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples from two supermarkets in Kowloon City and Tsing Yi for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructed them to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected products. According to the CFS's instructions, the importer concerned has initiated recalls on the affected products. Members of the public may call the hotline at 2262 1559 during office hours for enquiries about the recalls of the products concerned."
The spokesman continued, "The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction."
The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Investigations are ongoing.
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session on the verdict delivered by the Court of First Instance on the conspiracy to commit subversion case this afternoon (May 30):
Reporter: First, before the verdict this morning, the Police arrested four activists from the League of Social Democrats outside the West Kowloon court, including the wife of one of the defendants. They have not started their protest yet, so why were they taken away? Second, the Police have granted bail to five people in the Chow Hang-tung case. Is it a sign that the evidence is not strong enough for formal charges?
Secretary for Security: Regarding your first question, I understand that outside the courtroom, there were several people causing nuisance and conducting disorderly conduct and they were being arrested. For the second question, I understand that out of the seven people we have arrested, five were bailed out, one is still under detention for investigation while the remaining one is still being remanded in the institution in connection with other cases. Active investigations are still ongoing.
Reporter: What does the Government think of the significances of this verdict today by the court? Do you think the Government has achieved the major victory in this regard? And what does it think of the acquittal of the two defendants of this case? Secondly, what does the Government think of the criticisms by the EU, the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and other NGOs towards the verdict, particularly about the erosion of human rights and political freedoms in the city? Is it afraid of any sanctions or retaliations?
Secretary for Security: First of all, there is no winner out of this case. This is a very sad story that some Hong Kong people are trying to conduct subversion in Hong Kong. I think it is good that we are able to interdict their plot, so that Hong Kong citizens will not suffer and Hong Kong can now resume to a normal stage. Regarding those comments by the external forces, as I said, during the whole hearing period, there are different external forces that are trying to smear the Judiciary, the Department of Justice and also the law enforcement (agencies). Actually they are conducting their duties faithfully and I am proud of our court. I am proud of the Department of Justice staff and our law enforcement officers. I think they are the pride of Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
The Court of First Instance of the High Court today (May 30) delivered a verdict on 16 defendants who had pleaded not guilty in a conspiracy to commit subversion case. Apart from two defendants, against whom the evidence was insufficient for the court to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy, the remaining 14 defendants were convicted. The Department of Justice (DoJ) has immediately informed the court of its intention to make an appeal in respect of the defendants who were not convicted.
The reasons for verdict pointed out that by March and April 2020, the ultimate aim and purpose of the so-called "Project 35+" had been very clear and made known to the public, which was to undermine, destroy or overthrow the existing political system and structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) established under the Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" principle. The persons concerned conspired to indiscriminately vote down the Government's budget and public expenditure proposals after securing a majority in the Legislative Council (LegCo) through the so-called "primary election", in order to compel the HKSAR Government to accede to the so-called "Five Demands Not One Less" and force the Chief Executive to dissolve the LegCo and ultimately resign, thus rendering the Government unable to introduce any new policies or implement existing policies on benefitting people's livelihood. The power and authority of both the Chief Executive and the HKSAR Government would be greatly undermined, which would necessarily amount to a serious interference in, disruption or undermining of the performance of duties and functions in accordance with the law by the body of power of the HKSAR, subverting the State power.
During the trial, evidence adduced in the court revealed that the persons concerned put forward the "10 Steps to mutual destruction" which would bring Hong Kong society to a standstill through large-scale street riots and other means at the same time. Coupled with international political and economic sanctions, "mutual destruction" would be achieved, causing suffering to members of the public.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "The verdict showed that the court confirmed the occurrence of the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion, which aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' principle. A total of 47 persons were charged in the case. Apart from the two defendants, against whom the evidence was found insufficient for the court to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offence, the rest of the 45 defendants were convicted, showing the scale and the seriousness of the criminal scheme. With regard to the verdict on the two defendants, the DoJ has already informed the court of its intention to appeal. It is the duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security and we will fight resolutely against acts and activities endangering national security. In this regard, the HKSAR Government will ensure that laws are observed and strictly enforced, and will do our utmost to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security to fulfil this justified responsibility."
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "During the trial, external forces blatantly smeared the Judiciary, the DoJ and the law enforcement department, and even created pressure through intimidatory political means and misleading remarks, in an attempt to interfere with the fair trial. This flagrant trample on the rule of law is a despicable attempt, which the HKSAR Government strongly condemns."